Roche Expands Global Access to Viral Assays to Aid Eradication Efforts

Roche has expanded the Global Access Program, originally established to increase availability of HIV diagnostics in underserved countries, to include diagnostic tests for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Increased access to reliable diagnostics will allow early, possibly life-saving, detection and decrease the spread of these diseases. Roche launched the program in 2014 and began offering the added tests in July. The molecular diagnostics available include tests for determination of HIV-1 viral load, early diagnosis of HIV-1 and -2 in young infants, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and rifampin/isoniazid-resistant MTB, hepatitis B and C, and HPV. Depending on the test, assays run on Roche’s cobas 4800/6800/8800 platforms. Samples can be collected in far-flung sites on the cobas Plasma Separation Card and transported to the testing centers for processing. Roche offers a special pricing scheme for the diagnostic tests to qualifying organizations in 82 eligible countries. The program also offers reduced pricing for the outright purchase of the cobas 4800/6800/8800 systems but does not include service and maintenance or third-party laboratory equipment. “We monitor the success of the Global Access Program by the number of diagnostic tests provided to those in greatest need,” Mario Torres, head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics, told MD+DI. “Since the inception of the program, the number o...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: IVD Source Type: news